Saturation and quantum coherence: gearing up for EIC

The microscopic theory describing the structure of protons and nuclei is the theory of strong interactions, know as Quantum Chromo Dynamics (QCD). Even though the fundamental theory is known, it is extremely difficult to deduce from the QCD results of collision processes. This is due to the high level of complexity of the theory involving mutual interactions between gluons, the “photons” of strong interactions. When probed at very high energies, heavy nuclei, and even protons, appear very dense clouds of gluons, the state known Color Glass Condensate (CGC). The main objective of this proposal is to further develop the theory of high energy QCD. Among our particular goals is to understand the collective phenomena observed in hadronic collisions, using first principle QCD calculations. We will link our understanding of QCD with manifestations of a quintessential quantum property — the quantum entanglement. The relevant experiments involve proton—nucleus, and heavy ion collisions at Large Hadron Collider at CERN and Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory. We expect that our work will have an important impact on variety of aspects of the Electron Ion Collider — a flagship project of the USA in the field of high energy nuclear physics to be built at Brookhaven National Laboratory.